#4 - Still My Wife
1278 Words
Asher
"What the hell do you mean you've extended your trip?" I scowled at my brother, who also happened to be my Vice President and the one person I needed right now.
"You'll be fine," Grayson said casually.
"Of course, I'll be fine," I snapped, my scowl deepening. "I don't need you to hold my hand."
But I needed his presence. Someone to keep me in check before I torched our parents' legacy. I'd already torched their way of doing things. And even though Frost Industries had thrived under me, it still wasn't enough to calm the board. They continuously needed someone to ease their minds. That someone wasn't me.
"Look, something came up," He said, his voice shifting into something serious.
What the hell?
I almost played the you promised card. Because this was exactly the kind of mess I needed him for. I glared at the folders in front of me, filled with good news that I'd somehow still have to defend before salt and peppered, balding men.
"Something in the middle of nowhere?" I demanded. Yeah, I'd tracked him and Elaine, his wife. I was a control freak who needed to know where every member of my family was. Without their knowledge, of course.
"Look, you'll do great. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"What—" I blinked at the dark screen. "Did he just ghost me?"
"In the normal world, it's called ending a call, Asher."
Chelsea. Patricia. Or was it...? God, whoever she was, sauntered into my office.
"Didn't your parents ever teach you it's rude to eavesdrop?" I spat.
"I've always made it a point not to let anyone tell me what to do," she purred, swaying her hips unnecessarily. "Except if that person happens to be you, of course. Your PA said you were ready for me." She took the seat in front of me, crossing her legs. Her skirt rode high enough to reveal a hint of lace beneath.
I had been ready for her. Not anymore.
"Let's do this another time."
Or never.
I shoved to my feet and nearly collapsed when something in my leg pulled tight.
Damn it. Not now.
"Are you okay?" She lunged, hands out as if to help.
Big mistake.
"Get out!" I growled, sliding my hands into my pockets though every fiber of me wanted to clutch my leg and will the pain to back off.
I might need Grayson to keep the boardroom in line, to handle meetings and spreadsheets, but this? This was mine to deal with. Alone.
This pain... it was a reminder of just how dangerous attachments could be—and why I couldn't let anyone close.
"I'm sorry, I just thought—"
"I don't pay you to think, Sweetheart," I bit out.
She flinched, then came the familiar look. Sadness. Hurt.
I rolled my eyes. Another one who thought that because she'd been in my bed, she'd somehow made it into my heart.
Whatever made them think I still had one?
"It won't happen again," she said, forcing a sexy little smile. Impressive recovery. Too little. Too late.
"Name your price on your way out. It will be paid before the elevator hits the ground floor." I said, dismissing her.
"Please—" she blurted.
Great. A beggar too. I needed to upgrade my vetting process.
Yes, I vetted my partners. A sexy figure wasn't enough to earn a place in my bed. I needed to know they wouldn't cling, wouldn't start imagining forever. Clearly, my system had failed with candidate number God-knew-what. The upside? They got to decide what they thought they were worth. A blank signed check always waited on their way out, and they had seconds to pick a number.
"We're done here," I said more calmly pointing to the door, just as Jenny appeared.
"What?!" I barked, glaring at the older woman. I knew better than to snap at her, but the pain in my leg refused to ease up. One more second and she'd see right through me, and I'd be the recipient of those soft, worried looks. A beast like me had no business being looked at like that.
"Say something," I muttered when she just stared at me.
"Oh, are you talking to me, dear?"
Of course I was.
"I'm sorry," I sighed. "Gray bailed on me."
"He's on vacation. With his wife. Most of us actually enjoy such things meant for us mere mortals," she said, finally rolling her eyes as she walked in.
"You're here," I grinned, sinking back down into my chair with practiced ease. It did little to ease the familiar pain.
"I work for your father. I'm only here until you get your own PA. Which is why I have compiled a very comprehensive list of candidates." She handed me a folder. I merely scowled at it.
"I'm not HR."
Jenny's eyes narrowed. "You turned down every candidate HR sent."
"They were unqualified," I argued.
Her brows lifted.
Fine. They weren't her.
Jade Turner.
She had nothing to do with work, and it didn't matter. Not that she'd ever work with me the way Elaine worked with Grayson. She wasn't my wife. We weren't friends. Not even exes. And I had no bloody idea where she was.
Not that I'd ever admit I'd looked.
She was my past. One that liked showing up at the worst possible times, and wrecking everything in its path.
And apparently one that wouldn't let me hire my own PA either. I didn't need anyone that close.
"You want to talk about it?" Jenny asked gently.
So much for keeping her from seeing through me.
"There's nothing to talk about," I bit out, grabbing the folder. Something slipped free and hit the desk.
"Oh, that came in for you." Jenny nodded at the sealed envelope.
I frowned and turned it over.
When I saw my great-grandfather's seal, I froze, chest tightening as old guilt crawled up my spine.
What a bloody coincidence.
For a long moment I could only stare.
Normally, I was a logical man—but when it came to Jade, logic had never stood a chance. Somehow she always came with ghosts. With consequences. With reminders of everything I shouldn't have wanted, and reached for anyway.
And now I couldn't shake the feeling that she had something to do with this... with him. With his final wishes that I'd been cleanly excluded from.
Okay, according to his lawyer, it wasn't my time yet.
Everyone else in my family had heard from my great grandfather's lawyer. It had taken all of them to convince me that I was still worthy of his legacy, that he wasn't punishing me from the grave.
"I'll give you some privacy," Jenny said quietly.
I didn't look up. By the time the door clicked shut, my fingers were trembling.
I hated that.
I hated how bloody long I had waited for this. Was I finally about to stand before the board as the unquestioned heir of Frost Industries?
Had I been forgiven?
He wouldn't have had time to amend anything, to say he'd forgiven me. It had taken a split second, my mistake, to turn a perfectly fine day into a tragedy. But somehow, I felt like I needed to hear Wallace's final words to me.
I tore into the paper.
I froze the next second, teeth gritted.
Apparently, I wasn't done waiting. Because of Jade.
Because wanting her was still costing me... everything.
I glared at the single sheet of paper in the envelope.
Our marriage certificate.
Apparently, I was wrong.
She was still my wife.
- Writer
